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T he Skene Manor depends on the work of dedicated volunteers like Jared DeRusha.
The estate does not have a paid staff and therefore depends on a small army of volunteers to keep the building running.
Unfortunately it’s becoming harder and harder for the Skene Manor to find those volunteers.
“We are in need of volunteers,” said Don Rogers, vice president of Whitehall Skene Manor Preservation, Inc. “A real consideration is the age of our volunteers. A lot of us are getting a little long in the tooth.”
Rogers would like to see some younger volunteers. He said they don’t have to necessarily be youths, but just a little younger than a lot of the current volunteers.
“Some recent retiree’s would be nice,” he said. “A very real concern is how we are going to perpetuate,” citing that many of the volunteers are well into their retirements.
Anyone who can lend a hand for five hours or so a day one or two days a month would be helpful. “Anything to relieve the pressure,” Rogers said.
Skene Manor President Catherine Manuel said the estate needs a total of 60 or 70 volunteers to complete all the tasks and ensure that people aren’t dedicating all their free time at the mansion.
Some of the areas people can volunteer include dish washing, cooking, waiting tables, working in the gift shop, and landscaping.
“We need volunteers inside, outside and everywhere in between,” said Rogers.
Rogers said the tasks aren’t meant to be difficult and if there’s down time people can read or knit.
“We’re very casual,” he said.
Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to call or stop by the Skene Manor at 499-1906.
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